Over the next few days, Emma accompanied the queen whenever requested to do so, which was frequently. Still, the two spoke little and touched only briefly. There was no prolonged period of physical contact. Even in bed at night, the two slept on separate sides of the mattress after Regina stroked the other girl's hair until she fell asleep. Aside from the occasional extended eye contact, those were their only intimate moments.

FOUR WEEKS LATER

At last, Queen Regina gathered the courage to attempt to converse freely with her wife.

"Queen Emma?"

The girl looked up from her meal and met the other young queen's eyes.

"Yes?"

"What other hidden talents do you have?"

"I... What do you mean?"

"I just mean... In the forest... You built that fire."

"Yes?"

"What else can you do?"

"I... I mean... I suppose I can cook. I mean, my mother taught me. I'm really no good at it, not in comparison to her, but... I can..."

"That's certainly more than I can say for myself! I've never had to make a meal in my life. I've never been taught any useful skills. I would love to learn something like that."

"I... I could teach you... If you'd like."

A smile spread across Regina's lips as she clasped her hands together happily.

"I would like that very much."

"Then it's settled. Tomorrow morning, I'll teach you how to make pancakes."

"I don't think I've ever eaten a pancake."

"What? Really?"

"Yes, really. My mother has never let me eat anything with... well... so much sugar."

"They're delicious. You're going to love them. Warm... covered in butter and maple syrup... Oh, gosh. I can't wait to show you!"

Regina smiled again at the experiencing the girl's excitement for the first time. It was strange to see the girl smiling back at her, and for her to be speaking so freely. It was somewhat of a relief to them both. Even Emma's posture became slightly more relaxed, if only just slightly.

"Your smile is beautiful," the brunette blurted out, unable to stop herself from speaking. "I mean..."

"T-Thank you," Emma stuttered, a blush rising to her cheeks. Then, she pushed her chair back and stood suddenly, saying, "I should get ready for the council meeting," and turning to walk away, leaving Regina both startled and disappointed.

That night, neither spoke or mentioned the incident and the way Emma had nearly stormed off.

Instead, Regina waited until the girl fell asleep to gaze at the face of her bride, whispering, "All of you is beautiful, my queen."

IN THE MORNING

"Good morning, my queen," Emma said softly. "It's time for pancakes!"

The girl stirred but didn't fully wake until Emma repeated her words once more.

"Huh?" she mumbled. "Oh, yes! Pancakes! I almost forgot!"

The brunette could not stop the smile that betrayed her excitement, and she was surprised to find that her wife returned it, both of their faces lighting up.

Emma fought hard to contain her enthusiasm, but helped the girl just a little too quickly out of the bed, causing the girl to crash into her. Of course, Emma caught her, but nearly fell backwards in the process. When Regina laughed, the blonde found herself enchanted by the sound. Without another word, Emma gently pulled Regina down the corridor and into the kitchen.

"You are all excused," the first queen announced to the kitchen staff. "You may take the morning off, after you show Queen Emma the location of the flour, milk, eggs, and... What was that other thing?"

"Maple syrup!"

"Yes, that."

The staff, though shocked by the intrusion, dared not disobey their queens, and did as they were told. As soon as they were gone, Emma clapped her hands and began to gather the ingredients.

"First," she said, reaching for the small sack of white powder, "we measure out the flour, like this."

But when Emma raised the bag to pour some into the measuring cup, her hand slipped. Since Regina was leaning in so closely, the flour poured all over her dress and, worse - at least for Emma - between her breasts.

"Oh, my God," Emma gasped, dropping the bag on the counter and covering her mouth. "I am so, so sor-"

"You next!" the brunette cried cheerfully, not missing a beat as she grabbed the bag and quickly dumped nearly all of its contents on Emma.

Just as the girl's mouth fell open, Regina scooped up one of the last handfuls of flour and dribbled it over Emma's red, horrified face. The other young queen held her stomach as she doubled over with laughter, and Emma couldn't stifle her own smile. Reacting just as quickly as the other girl had, Emma grabbed the last of the flour and smeared it all over Regina's glowing, radiant features, from her forehead to her chin.

Regina was still doubled over, laughing so hard that it began to hurt. Tears streamed down her cheeks, wetting some of the flour on her cheeks nearly into paste. Reaching up and bracing herself with her hand pressed against Emma's shoulder, she moved closer. Also laughing uncontrollably, Emma wrapped an arm around the girl, but was surprised to find that this extra amount of pressure caused Regina to fall forward into her arms.

Holding the girl upright, Emma looked into her eyes. Without words, Regina reached up and slowly brushed her thumb over her bride's full, pink lips and wiped away most of the flour there.

"My queen," Emma whispered, subconsciously leaning in ever so slightly.

"My queen," her bride whispered back.

She then wiped her own lips clean before doing what she'd been so longing to. When their lips came together, Emma didn't pull away. Instead, she deepened the kiss as Regina tangled her fingers in the girl's hair and pulled her closer, pressing their bodies together.

Needless to say, they skipped breakfast.

THAT NIGHT

"Queen Emma," Regina whispered in the darkness of the bedchamber, long after the girl had fallen asleep.

Emma was startled awake and sat straight up in bed when she heard the sound, but relaxed when she realized it was only Regina.

"It's okay," the other queen said softly, wrapping an arm around Emma's shoulders and settling back in against the pillows with her. "It's just me. I didn't mean to startle you. I apologize. I only..."

But the young queen paused, gazing at the girl in her bed, who didn't speak. Instead of words, Regina leaned in, stroking the girl's hair, and moved their lips together. As they kissed, Emma's arms draped around Regina's neck to subtly pull her closer. When they pulled away from each other, they were both out of breath.

"I never thought..." Emma started, but trailed off.

"Me either," Regina whispered, slowly kissing her lips again.

"I was so scared."

"Me too," the brunette replied. "Are you still?"

"Of you? No. Of this? Yes."

Regina smiled and wrapped both arms around her queen, pulling their bodies together.

"I'm glad you're not scared of me," she said. "I would never harm you, my queen."

Emma ran her fingers through the girl's long, dark hair, earning a quiet, happy sigh from the girl as she shut her eyes and lowered her head to the blonde's shoulder. Next, Emma bravely moved her hands up and down the girl's bare sides, stroking the skin there with her thumbs.

"You are so beautiful," Emma whispered, placing a gentle kiss on her bride's cheek.

The brunette sighed happily once more and opened her eyes, sitting up just enough to capture the other girl's gaze.

"As are you, my queen."

"You can call me Emma," the blonde told her. "Just Emma. If you'd like. If you feel it appropriate."

"I feel," the young queen said, "that you will always be my queen, but that I treasure your name on my lips, my sweet Emma. You may call me Regina."

"Regina," Emma breathed. "Regina."

"I like the way you say my name," the brunette said softly, stroking the girl's cheek.

"And I like saying it."

"I... I'd like to hear how else you could say it..."

"Um... What?"

"I... I meant... Nothing."

"Wait," Emma protested. "What is it?"

"I want to know what it's like to hear you... to hear you moan it," she confessed shyly. "Loudly. Desperately."

Emma's breath caught in her chest as she attempted to make eye contact with her bride, but the girl had looked away in embarrassment.

"I..." Emma started nervously. "Make me do it, then."

"Are... Are you sure?" Regina asked, her own breath catching in her lungs as well.

"I'm your bride, aren't I? I am yours to take."

"But you-"

"I'm ready."

"But I-"

"Please, Regina," Emma whispered, reaching behind the girl's back to unhook her strapless bra.

Regina, enticed by the sound of her own name on the girl's lips, did the same for Emma, tossing the undergarment to the side before moving on to the next and final article of clothing separating them from complete contact.

"Please," the blonde repeated, urging the girl to continue.

Slowly, Regina slid her hands past Emma's hips and over her thighs, pulling the girl's panties down with her fingertips.

"Take mine off too?" the brunette asked gently, taking Emma's hands and moving them to her own hips.

Emma nodded and performed the same action, tossing the girl's last article of clothing to the side as she had done. Finally naked, Regina moved back on top of her queen and positioned herself between the girl's legs.

"Are you ready?" she asked Emma, and the other queen nodded shyly, biting her lip. "Good. I... I want to make you come for me..."

Emma was startled by the girl's bluntness and blushed just enough for Regina to see it in the candlelight, causing her to smile.

With slow, gentle fingers, the dark-haired queen slid her hand between her bride's legs and stroked the flesh there. After a few slightly more forceful movements, the blonde whimpered with pleasure and moved her hips up to meet her lover's thrusts. Just as Regina started to feel self-conscious that she might not be doing it right, Emma's breaths quickened, and she began to gasp for air. Encouraged by the sound of the girl's erratic breathing, Regina pulled her hand away. When she slipped it back between Emma's legs that time, two fingers slid into the girl's warm, pulsing core, instead of one.

This pushed the young queen over the edge, and, as Regina had hoped, she began to moan the girl's name, louder each time, until her walls contracted around the girl's fingers and soaked them.

"'Gina," Emma finally whimpered as she collapsed, exhausted, onto the mattress.

"'Gina?" Regina gasped, kneeling between Emma's open legs. "No one's ever called me that."

"I... I'm s-sorry..." Emma stuttered, still trying to catch her breath and slow her own heartbeat.

"No... I like it."

Regina smiled at the girl and leaned in, placing a tender kiss on her forehead and running her fingers through her hair.

"'Gina," Emma sighed, shutting her eyes as the girl kissed her forehead again.

"Em," her queen cooed back, continuing to place gentle kisses on the rest of her lover's face.

A/N: It didn't really turn out the way I wanted it to, but there it is. Not my best, but hopefully it wasn't too horrible :P